Chuck wrench



March 18, 1958 J. A. MccLxN'rocK 2,826,950

CHUCK WRENCH Filed April 5, 1957 F lg.2

E ///l m I6 INVENTOR. 20 JOHN -A. MccL/NTocK g @wm QLofm ATTORNEYS The present inventionwhileindicatedas relating specifically to a chuck wrench, relates more generally` to `al wrench which is adapted toturn a peripherally` recessed cylindrical body, whether thatbody be ya part of a drill chuck (frequently referredgto as a Jacobs `chuck)a threading die holder, a shank Iof,a,tap or rearnerholder,`

for the tap holders but these tixturesnare relatively expensive and d not Yinsure my .high Adcgreecf, accuracy Since me. Work is -movedrom the Y,drill press to the fixture in. the present cas@v Ait-iscontempla ted to use the drill chuck of the drill press spindle not only for drillingA a hole in the work but also for turning a tap held therein for thus` achieving accuracy'by'reasonvof the use of the same chuck yand spindle for drilling and threading without shifting the work.y ,Y

Drillchucks ofthe character'referred t0 ahOv'evare well-known in theart andmay-comprise a cylindrical body formed with converging openings in which the jaws are longitudinally movable to grip the shank of a tool therebetween and a rotary sleeve around said body which, when rotated in opposite directions, effects longitudinal movement of the jaws along such converging passages whereby said jaws move radially outward or inward relative to one another. In such drill chuck, said body is usually formed with radial openings, usually three in number, in any one of which the pilot of a key is rotatably supported with its teeth in mesh with teeth formed around the-end of said rotary sleeve. Thus, when the key pilot is inserted in one of the pilot holes of the chuck body, the rotation of the key effects rotation of the sleeve and consequent actuation of the chuck jaws.

It is one principal object of this invention to provide a wrench for a chuck of the above-described type which is characterized by the provision of a spring detent which is adapted to spring into one of the key pilot holes of the chuck to hold the wrench in place and which is further characterized by the provision of means for positively locking the detent in the keyhole so that said detent constitutes, in effect a driving key by which torque may be transmitted from the wrench handle to the chuck.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wrench which, when clamped on the peripherally recessed body, or specifically, on the recessed cylindrical body of a drill chuck, has three-point gripping engagement with said body to provide a sturdy connection between the wrench and said body for transmission of torque of substantial magnitude.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wrench which may be easily and quickly initially slipped over the peripherally recessed cylindrical body and then easily and quickly positively locked to the body for transmission of torque from the wrench handle to the body.

In the hand tapping of 4agdrilled hole it ,is common, practice to employ a drill .press V,for drilling the hole, inthe work4 and Vthen usingla hand-actuatedtap,wrenchi for threading such hole. As anaidto handtapping therey are available special fixturesl that provide guidevbearingsj` I 12.2,. r i Patented y18,

It is yet another object of this invention to provide av wrench having a simple and inexpensive insert when the wrench proper is made asl of die-cast metal.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the .annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodimentsv Fig. l is a cross-section view of the wrench constituting the present invention showing the same as initially slipped over theA peripherally recessed cylindrical body of a conventional drill chuck; n

Fig. 2 is a lbottom plan View of the wrench shown iny j Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section view showing,fon enlarged scale, the positive locking of the detent peripheral recess of the chuck body; and f. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectionview of the wr'enc asassembled on a threading die holder; the holderV being a .cylindrical 4body formed with,` a gaged by the detent ofthe wrench. i f

Referring now more particularly to the drawing,i'thej drill chuck 1 has a cylindrical body 2 formed'gwithz radially extending key pilot holesY 3 and withdownwardlyg converging passages or slots (not shown) in whichithe jaws 4, usually three in number, are longitudinally mov-z able. Said jaws 4, when moved downwardly with' respectY Sliney'em5"l provided Ywith: teeth 6 which ,Ineshwithlteethz formed on the chuck key (not shown), said key havin'gg a pilot rotatably fitted into any one of the key pilot holes 3. Thus, when such key is rotated, the sleeve 5 is rotated to move the jaws either upwardly or downwardly to release or to grip the tool therebetween, for example a tap T.

The wrench herein is shown as comprising a center ring portion 7 with diametrically opposite radially extending handles d and 9 and when said ring portion 7 and handles 8 and 9 are made of die-casting or like alloy an insert 10 of steel or like metal may be provided, said insert being formed with a serrated or knurled exterior surface to lock the insert in said ring portion 7. For sake of economy of manufacture, said insert 10 -is fabricated from strip metal knurled or serrated on one side and formed with thinned portions adjacent the abutting ends that provide clearance 11 with the cylindrical body Z.

One of the handles, i. e. handle 8 is formed with a longitudinally extending bore threaded adjacent its outer end. Said bore extends only part way through the insert 10 so yas to leave detent-retaining lips 12 (see Fig. 3). Longitudinally movable in such bore is a detent 14 herein shown as comprising a ball. Screwed into said handle 8 is a rod 15 which slidably carries a detent plunger 16 that presses detent 14 radially inward under the inuence of the spring 17.

When the aforesaid parts of the wrench are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the wrench may easily be slipped over the chuck body 2 and rotated until the detent 14 springs into one of the key pilot holes 3, to yieldably hold the wrench in place.

After the wrench has ybeen thus initially slipped over the chuck body 2, the rod l5 is screwed inward until its concave end surface abuts the detent 14 to positively hold in ja.-

Pelipheral recessfeni.

thelatterin engagement with'the key pilot hole 3. In such clampedposition `of the wrench on the chuck body 2, it is to :be noted that the detent-retaining lips 12. are clear of the detent 14 so as not to interfere with solid metal-to-metaltengagement of `the detent '14 within the key pilotvhole l3. -By so tightening the- .rod 15, vtheA wrench is firmly clampednon the chuck body 2 by pressure a'pp'liedabthrce. points, that isat the detent "14 andat the points t18radjacent tbe'tthin portions of the insert 10.

Now, the drill chuck 1 is ready to be positively rotatedrbyitorqueapplied on the `handles 8 and 9, the detent 14 constituting a drive lkey. To remove the wrench from the drillchuck 1, `all that it is necessary to do is totunscrew the rod 15, preferably until its outer end is approximately tlush with the outer end of the handle 8, whereupon the v`wrench may beslipped oli the chuck body 2.

Fig. 4 shows the present wrench as used to nonrotatably clamp the holder 19 for a threadingdieZO. Said holder 19 is lprovided with a-plurality of vsetscriews 21 by which the `die 20 is held in place and also is provided with a peripheral recess in which the detent 14 is adapted, as aforesaid, to be iirst spring-engaged and then positively engaged `to `constitute a driving key.

Obviously, the wrench herein may be positioned around and locked on periph'erally recessed cylindrical bodies other than the'chuckbody v2 or the die holder 19 herein shown.

It is to `be understoodthat when the wrench is made of steel or like strong metal, the insert 10 is not required. Similarly, the wrench may be provided with ibut a single handle 8 if so desiredfbut it has been found preferably tto provide a pair of diametrically opposite handles and `9 for convenience and for application of t details described, provided the features stated in any of thefollowing claims, or the equivalent of such, be em ployed.

I `therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. A wrench for turning a peripherally recessed cylin drical body about its central longitudinal axis, said wrench comprising a head and a radially extending handle, said head being formed with an opening to receive such body therein, a spring-pressed detent extending radially from said handle into said opening'and .adapted to spring into a recess of such body when aligned therewith, and positive abutment means in said handle movable radially into engagement with said detent to lock the latter against radial outward movement whereby said detent constitutes a key to positively transmit torque from said wrench to such body.

2. The wrench of claim l wherein said opening, diametrically opposite said detent, is radially enlarged so as to radially clear such` body to thus provide with said detent a three-point gripping of such body by said wrench.

lEl. A wrench for't'urning a peripherally recessed cylindrical body about its central longitudinal axis, said wrench comprising ahead and a radially extending handle, said head being'formed with an opening to receive such body therein, 'a spring-pressed ball detent extending radially from said handle into said opening and adapted to spring into a recess of such body when aligned therewith, and screw abutment means in said handle and including a screw-actuated rod whose inner end is movable radially into abutting engagement with said ball detent to lock the latteragainst radial outward movement whereby said ball detent constitutes a key to positively transmit torque from said wrench to such body.

4. The wrench of claim 2 wherein said opening is defined by a split insert of strip metal whose juxtaposed ends are thinned to provide the aforesaid clearance with said body.

References Citedin the le of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 

